SAN FRANCISCO, CA. June 11, 2016 — Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation today announced their 2016 season of events and beneficiaries. The Foundation produces the annual REAL BAD fundraising party that follows San Francisco’s world-renowned Folsom Street Fair on Sunday, September 25th at 1015 Folsom, the REACH Pride T-Dance party that takes place on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 at SF Oasis, and the RECOVERY T-Dance party that immediately follows the Castro Street Fair on Sunday, October 2nd at Public Works. The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation also announced that it will donate 100 percent of the funds raised by general admission ticket sales to the historically sold-out event REAL BAD, as well as 100 percent of the proceeds generated by REACH and RECOVERY to six worthy LGBT non-profits. Last year, the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation raised $217,000, and has raised over $2.2 million throughout the organization’s history.

The six LGBT health and community service organizations named as beneficiaries of the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation represent diverse causes within the community. The beneficiary organizations selected to receive new funding this year are:

Dolores St. Community Services

Dolores Street Community Services nurtures individual wellness and cultivates collective power among low-income and immigrant communities to create a more just society.

LGBTQ Connection

LGBTQ Connection fosters a healthier, more diverse and inclusive community, driven by emerging and youth leaders in the rural and suburban north SF Bay Area.

The Trevor Project

The mission of The Trevor Project is to end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.

In addition, funding is being continued for the following two organizations:

Project Homeless Connect

The mission of Project Homeless Connect is to connect San Franciscans experiencing homelessness with the care they need to move forward.

HIV Story Project/ National AIDS Memorial

Focused on bridging HIV/AIDS with film, media and storytelling to halt the spread of the pandemic, battle the stigma associated with it and give a voice to the HIV positive community.

Ken Wells, Event Chair for this year’s REAL BAD XXVIII, REACH, and RECOVERY parties, said “The heart of the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation and the past 27 years of successful giving that our organization has seen are the result of the deep and meaningful connections that we share in the San Francisco Bay Area Community. Through our Circles of Friends, Sponsors and Beneficiaries, we create a network of love and philanthropy that nourishes and sustains our community. Now in our 28th year, we are thrilled to continue honoring these connections and forging new ones as we kick off our 2016 season of fundraising events. Join us and DO GOOD.” REAL BAD XXVIII will take place on Sunday, September 25th, 2016 at club 1015 Folsom in San Francisco.

The Foundation today unveiled this year’s Main Dance Floor DJ for REAL BAD XXVIII as Xavier Alvarado from Mexico City. His passion for electronic music began at a young age. Largely self taught, his first professional opportunity was in Puebla, Mexico in 2009. The following year he moved to Mexico City where he was exposed to a larger audience in the city’s major clubs. This exposure landed him a residency with Maninfest, Mexico’s premier leather event, where he helped develop their trademark, masculine, energetic musical style. In 2013 he debuted in Paris and Madrid during their largest gathering of the bear community where he worked with the Madrid-based fetish party Into the Tank, returning to Europe in 2015 to his newfound fans.

Xavier’s sets create a journey from classics to the current tracks mixing a wide range of house, tech house, techno, tribal and progressive, assembled with and elegant technique resulting in a powerful, sexy style. He adds a personal touch with his own remixes creating a unique musical experience at each party he spins.

In addition, the Underground will offer an alternative dance floor with music by San Francisco’s own DJ Salazar. Born in Colombia, and a recent transplant from Miami, Florida, DJ Salazar brings a lustful, animalistic twist to his music, which speak to his audience’s libido. He brings this seductive sound to regular San Francisco residencies at Powerhouse, the Eagle, the Lookout as well as the infamous Hellbound party. He has recently brought his skills to a larger audience with appearances at Force and the local edition of the New York-based Brüt party. Wherever he goes, Salazar seeks to keep his crowd dancing.

REAL BAD XXVIII will also feature world-class lighting, laser, and video production. The lighting and laser show will be designed and operated by Robert Sanders of RAGErLAZER. Visuals by 3 will be creating custom content for the live video show.

REAL BAD XXVIII Poster:

2016 Poster

The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation also discussed the REACH Pride T-Dance featuring DJ Bret Law from Seattle with lighting and lasers by Sean Hertel. This joyous daytime dance party will be held on Saturday, June 25th, 3pm–8pm, at SF Oasis, 298 11th Street in San Francisco.

REACH 2016 Poster:

2016 Poster

The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation also announced today the RECOVERY party will feature the return of San Francisco’s DJ Philip Grasso with lighting and lasers by Robert Sanders of RAGErLAZER and Visuals by 3. The party will be held Sunday October 2nd, 6pm–midnight, immediately following the Castro Street Fair, at Public Works, 161 Erie Street in San Francisco.

RECOVERY 2016 Poster:

2016 Poster

About the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation and its Season of Events

REAL BAD, REACH, and RECOVERY are produced by the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation (formerly GRGR/West), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. These annual fundraising events are completely volunteer-produced, and are distinct in that the costs of producing the events are underwritten entirely by the party’s Hosts, a Circle of Friends who volunteer their time and resources to make REAL BAD a yearly sell-out success. This unique support enables 100% of general admission ticket proceeds from REAL BAD, and 100% of all ticket proceeds from REACH and RECOVERY, to be donated to charity. In 2015, the Foundation raised $217,00, bringing the total donated to worthy non-profits to over $2.2 million over the event’s history. The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation changes lives by supporting organizations that promote a happy, healthy, and connected LGBT community.
For more information, visit www.realbad.org and www.grassrootsgayrights.org